Helping Hands Grant Type 1. Urgent Needs Grants
Care For Others makes Urgent Needs Grants by remitting payment to a creditor for an emergency or unexpected expense on behalf of the applicant that has been documented to be a temporary, short term or one time financial need.
In making an Urgent Needs Grant, our goal is to prevent an otherwise self-sufficient individual or family from entering the cycle of poverty as a result of the financial burden placed upon them with this unexpected expense.
You may be eligible for an Urgent Needs Grant if:
• You or your family have encountered a short-term emergency expense that must be paid if you are to remain self sufficient but that you cannot afford at this time without assistance. For example, a person who does not have access to public transportation and needs help with an emergency car repair that will keep him/her working would be an example of someone who might be eligible for an Urgent Needs Grant. Cars must have less than 100,000 miles and be less than 10 years old in order to be considered for repair assistance. Proof of current car insurance will also be required.
• You need help with a regularly scheduled expense like your rent because of a short term medical leave that temporarily reduced your income. For example, a person who can normally afford to pay his/her rent but needed 4 weeks off to recuperate from surgery could be a candidate for an Urgent Needs Grant.
In order to qualify for an Urgent Needs Grant
1. At least one adult in your household must be employed 35
hours a week or more. You have not been unemployed or on leave for more
than 60 days unless retired and/or permanently disabled.
2. Your household’s single largest source of income is earned from working. Pensions, Permanent Disability and Social Security are considered working income. Child Support and Alimony are not.
3. Your household’s total “net” earned income is equal to double
your rent or mortgage, but not more than your rent or mortgage plus
$2500.
4. The expense with which you need assistance can be paid on your
behalf directly to a vendor. (Care For Others does not pay credit card
bills)
5. The expense with which you need assistance can be paid in full
for no more than the maximum grant for which your household qualifies
from Care For Others.
6. The expense with which you need assistance with can be documented.
Please note:
Urgent Needs Grants cannot be used to remit payment for regular
expenses that an applicant can no longer afford due to a long term (more
than 60 days) reduction in income. For example, an applicant that has
suffered a long term income reduction because they have been unemployed
or ill for more than 60 days and their rent or utility bill is more than
two months late would not be a good candidate for an Urgent Needs Grant
from Care For Others.
General Documentation Requirements for Helping Hands Grants
As a 501 c 3 (tax exempt) organization, Care For Others is required by law to perform due diligence on the applications we receive prior to making a grant.
Applications should be honest, concise and factual. If any verbal or written information is found to be dishonest, fraudulent or deceptive during the verification process the applicant will automatically become ineligible for assistance.
Before we can review an application for a Helping Hands Grant we must have documentation for the following:
• Proof of identity. This may be in the form of a drivers license, state issued ID or a military ID
• Proof of address. This may be in the form of a utility
bill or other major bill in the name of the applicant and being mailed
to the address listed on the application.
• Proof of employment/income. Usually documentation of two
months income is required This can be in the form of pay stubs where
salary and hours worked are indicated., social security benefits letters
and disability benefits letters. In the case when it is new employment
or income is direct deposited a letter from the employer on their letter
head indicating contracted hours, salary, position and start date will
suffice. In most cases the most recent copy of your income tax return
will be requested. In addition, the name, address and contact number at
place of employment is required.
• Proof of circumstances surrounding your need. For example
if a person has requested help paying rent because they had surgery and
lost income because of medical leave we would require documentation
from their physician as to the date of surgery and when they were
released to return to work.
• Proof of expense and amount of assistance requested. For
example if a person is requesting help with a car repair bill we would
request an estimate from a certified car mechanic. If the estimate is
over $500 two estimates will be required. In addition all requests for car repairs would require proof of current car insurance.
In addition:
• Your application and documentation must be able to prove that
your expense is short term and it is a documentable extenuating
circumstance.
• You must be able to prove that there is a plan in place to improve
your situation. (i.e. a documented job search or working
with an employment agency, taking a class to improve employment options
and working with a budget counselor are a few examples).
• Your household net income (after deductions) must be at least 50%
more than what you are paying in rent or mortgage but no more than
your rent or mortgage plus $2500. For example if your rent or mortgage
is $500 a month, your household net income must be a minimum of $1000
and no more than $3000.
• All savings and investment resources must be utilized before seeking our assistance.
• All resources through your state, county or local organizations,
churches and clubs must be exhausted before seeking our assistance.
All documentation is completely confidential. We will never request documentation that an honest applicant could not obtain. However, an application cannot be sent to the review board or receive funding until we have documentation to support it. All documentation must be received no later than 30 days after your application is filed or your application will become null and void.
